Violence against people with disabilities is one aspect that has been neglected almost entirely. As a result, little information is available on the nature and extent of violence against women and children with disabilities. The National Development Plan requires that all vulnerable groups should enjoy equal protection and their fear of crime should be eradicated through effective and coordinated responses.
Anecdotal evidence from several reports indicate that women and children with disabilities who experience gender-based violence have inadequate access to support services from the gender-based violence sector, including appropriate information resources setting out their rights, as well as poor access to the criminal justice system. Women and children with disabilities reportedly experience both physical and communicational limitations as well as procedural and evidentiary limitations of access to justice.
This is the reason the Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will launch a disability enhancement tool for the 24-hour Gender Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC). The GBVCC is a professional toll-free service that employs social workers to provide counselling services and can geo-locate callers. The disability enhancement tool will enable members of the deaf community to access and utilize the services of the centre. The system also includes the use of a Skype line by trained social workers who are proficient in the use of sign language.
The launch of the disability enhancement tool forms part of 16 days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign. Callers can access the GBVCC for assistance by dealing 0800 428 428 or *120*7867#
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event as follows:
Date: Friday, 02 December 2016
Venue: The South African National Council for the Blind, 514 White Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria
Time: 9h00
Members of the media can RSVP by calling Jaconia Kobue 073 026 1111 / Jaconiak@dsd.gov.za
Media inquiries and tour to the centre, may be forwarded to Ms Lumka Oliphant at 083 4848 067 or LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
